So you're thinking of starting a Pagan group at your college? Good. It'll be hard work, but here are some tips.

• Look at my page on Dealing with the Public. You're going to face a lot of it, especially your school's administration and student government.
• Find out if there ever was a group on campus. Sometimes it's easier to ressurect a group than start from scratch.
• Get information on your school's rules about clubs. You'll want to know them inside and out, so that you don't have any stumbling blocks.
• Don't get discouraged. You'll catch some flak about this, but don't let it get you down. If you find your posters torn down, put up new ones. Photocopies and staples aren't too expensive.
• If you receive any threats, stay in close contact with your school security. Make sure that everything is documented. If you receive anything over the internet (harrassing email, etc.), contact the computer administrators.
• Before you get everyone together, figure out what you're going to do at the first meeting. Nothing is worse than sitting in a room full and people and not knowing what to do. Have a vague agenda. Look for volunteers to serve as temporary officers. Form a committee to start on a constitution.
• Decide what type of group to be; depending on your focus (social, educational, ceremonial), what steps you need to take might vary.
• Speaking of constitutions, get copies of other organization's rules. On-campus groups can give you ideas of what school-specific things need to be included. Other pagan groups can give you ideas for extra rules you might want to include. It's never a bad idea to cover yourself. (In fact, extra rules will probably make the administrators breathe a bit easier.)
• When you apply for official recognition, submit a list of resources as well. This list should be given the the administrators and the student government personell that will be deciding on the recognition. The list should include contact information (in case they have questions), as well as a list of suggested reading (on-line and off-line.) If you have any books or pamphlets you're willing to lend to them, include those as well. They might not take you up on your offer, but it's better to make it. (And if they don't, you can mention that you offered extra information, and they turned you down...)
• Be ready to make concessions. Most of the people you'll be dealing with will have no clue what you're really about. Be ready to accept some extra rules. Invite them to meetings and ceremonies.
• Stay calm. Don't take everything as an attack. Many schools make it difficult to start a group, so what you might be experiencing is the normal red tape, not discrimination.
• Stress the similarities. Most schools have Christian, Jewish, and Islamic groups on campus. Focus on the similarities. If worse comes to worse, you can site some of the freedoms that the other groups have. After all, a lot of Americans hold stereotypes about Muslims - does the Islamic Student Association have rules against terrorism? Does the Hillel group have rules against performing Kosher slaughterings? And how many Pagans have a legitimate fear of what fundamental Christians might do to them? Turning the tables like this will make people uncomfortable, but may well prove a point.
• Don't be afraid to use extra resources. Talk to other student Pagan groups - most of us are rather friendly. Talk to the school newspaper - a short article on breaking some stereotypes is an easy way for them to fill space. And if they print an article on what you're doing, it'll be good PR. If there's a school radio, offer to do an interview. Find other groups on campus that might be willing to sponsor an event with you. Doing some sort of interfaith work with other religious clubs is always a plus, especially in the eyes of the school administrators.

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